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October Is National Fire Prevention Month; So Let’s Talk About Fire Safety.

October is National Fire Prevention Month, making it the perfect time to solidify that your home is a safe place for your family. You can also take the opportunity to teach children a few basic fire safety tips. 

Fire prevention is key to your family’s safety and observing some common-sense rules can help stop some of the most easily preventable fires. For example, keep matches and lighters away from young children; never leave your stove or lit candles unattended; follow all directions on portable and space heaters; make sure you keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and clean dryer vents regularly and never leave the house when the dryer is running. Following these tips can keep fires from happening, or letting fires that do happen from spreading.

If a fire does occur, fire alarms are one of the best ways to ensure your family’s safety.  There should be alarms on every level of your home, particularly near sleeping areas. Make sure you either have dual fire and smoke alarms or install smoke alarms in addition to fire alarms, as smoke tends to spread more quickly than fire and can be the first sign of trouble. Remember, only working smoke alarms will help you, so when you turn back the clocks change those batteries! Having a smoke detector in your home will greatly reduce the chance of fire-related deaths. 

To ensure that everyone gets out safely in the event of a fire, every member of your family should be aware of your home fire escape plan. They should know which doors and windows make for a safe escape option and where to meet once they exit the home. Children should also be taught to never return to the home once they have exited and they should be taught to “stop, drop, and roll” in the event that their clothing should catch fire. You should also annually practice fire drills so that your whole family knows what to do in case of a fire.

By employing a little bit of common sense and a dash of prevention, you can help to keep your home and your family safe from the dangers of fire. 

Should a fire break out in your home make sure to exit immediately, remain outside, and call for help. Once everyone is safe call Branch Services to take care of any smoke, water, or fire damage. We’ll help you get back to normalcy as quickly as possible,